Welcome Interim Dean, Mariale Hardiman, EdD

Mariale Hardiman, EdD, vice dean for academic affairs and a professor of clinical education, has been named interim dean of the school. "Given the strong leadership she has provided the school over the past nearly 10 years, including her previous service as interim dean, we are confident Dr. Hardiman is the right person to take on this important role," university President Ronald J. Daniels and Provost Robert C. Lieberman said in a statement to the Hopkins community in February.

Hardiman will lead critical near-term initiatives, including continuing the growth of the School of Education's research portfolio, facilitating the strategic planning process, guiding the school through accreditation, advancing efforts for greater racial diversity and inclusion as outlined in the Faculty Diversity Initiative, and providing ongoing stewardship of the Henderson-Hopkins K-8 school and the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Early Childhood Center.

Hardiman earned her doctorate in education at Johns Hopkins and is co-founder and director of the School of Education's Neuro-Education Initiative. Her research and publications focus on enhancing educational practices through techniques that foster innovation and creative problem solving. She joined Johns Hopkins in 2006 as assistant dean for urban school partnerships and chair of the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, and was interim dean from February to September 2010.

Previously, Hardiman had served the Baltimore City Public Schools for more than 30 years in a number of different capacities. As the principal of Roland Park Elementary/Middle School, she led the school to its designation as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

U.S. News Ranks SOE Second in the Nation

Dear Alumni and Friends,

The U.S. News & World Report’s “best graduate school” rankings came out in March, and the Johns Hopkins School of Education is ranked second along with Harvard. We’re very honored to have held the top position for two years in a row and to now be tied for second. We’re in great company, and we extend our hearty congratulations to Stanford University for claiming the top spot.

The U.S. News rankings aren’t like a sports contest, where the winner takes home a trophy and all of the glory. Although those who know us well know that we have crowed proudly about being in the number-one spot. At this level in higher education, being the best is by degrees. We are among a very distinguished and deserving group of peers who are defining the future of research and graduate education in the profession. We are fueled by strong research represented by the confidence that external funders have in our faculty to produce meaningful and relevant new knowledge in education.

We continue to support the most well-prepared doctoral and master’s students in the country with innovative and high-impact programs that will serve us well into the future. First and foremost, we’re in the business of training the best and brightest educators, counselors and public safety professionals through evidence-based research and by investigating the science behind learning in order to provide them with the tools to do their work.

The School of Education’s diverse faculty are the top researchers, social scientists and instructors in their respective fields. Research-proven programs developed by our school’s faculty are being implemented in over 1,000 schools nationwide, in districts within 47 states, by over 20,000 teachers, and currently contributing to the development of over 300,000 students.

The metrics used to create the U.S. News & World Report ranking represent a valid subset of a much wider range of potential indicators of quality and impact. I am extremely honored and proud that our faculty, staff, students and alumni are ranked among the very best educators in the world.